Oil-gauge-testing device



Jan. 26 1926.

M. M. HUTCHINS OIL GAUGE TESTING DEVICE Filed April 2, 1925 IWVEWTOEZ Patented Jan. 26, 1926.

UNITED STATEZE OIL-GAUGE-TES'IING DEVICE.

Application filed April 2, 1925. Serial No. 20,204.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN M. IIUToHiNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-Gauge'-Testing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pet-cock manipulating devices for automobile engines and the object is to provide a simple, efficient and inexpensive device particularly useful for determining the amount and quality of lubricating oil in the reservoir of automobile engines of the type in which the socalled splash feed lubrication is used and pet-cocks are fixed in said reservoir at dif ferent elevations.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the right hand side of a fly-wheel housing and adjacent parts of a Ford type engine, showing two pet-cocks in the usual positions and my device applied to one of them.

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of F ig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of my device in enlarged scale and Fig. t is a side elevation of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, 5 designates the flywheel housing of the Ford type of'automobile engine and located rearwardly of the main engine block 6, and 7 is the rearwardly tapering transmission housing formed integral with the flywheel housing 5. 8 is the main drive shaft extending rearwardly and transmitting power to the rear axle (not shown).

The engine fly-wheel is located concentrically in housing 5 and is shown dotted at 9 in Fig. 2. This fly-wheel rotates partially submerged in a supply of lubricating oil within the housing 5 and the surface of said oil is indicated by dotted lines 10. 11 and 12 are respectively the upper and lower level. pet-cocks in housing 5 con'ummicating with its interior and extending rearwardly horizontally. 13 is the pet-cock lever of either pet-cock and is normally in a vertical plane when the valve of the pet-cock is closed. This lever 13 is usually a flat wing member adapted to be engaged and turned by hand about one quarter turn to open the valve of the pet-cock.

My device comprises a straight main bar T14; preferably a square metal bar with a lanai-h ld 1 at one and and an elongated yoke member or channel 14 at the other end and of U shape in cross section and arranged transversely at the end of bar 14.

Near the yoke 14 is secured integrally on bar 14 the upper end of an L-shaped arm extending downwardly as 15 thence horizontally as 15 slightly forward of and below yoke 14 the latter arm 15 being parallel to the main bar 14. 16 are two horizon tally disposed spring metal arms secured 011 arm 15 and extending forward of member 1 lin oppositely directed outward curvatures as at 16 (Fig. 3) thence rounded as 16 and terminating in outwardly curved spaced ends 16, thus forming two oppositely disposed spring arms on a horizontal plane adapted to engage opposite sides of a suitable glass vessel 17 and hold it securely in resting position on arm 15 with the opening of the vessel directed upwardly and located forwardly of the valve turning member M In the use of my device the operator first puts the glass jar in the clamped position described then grasps handle 14 and holds the device horizontal, applying member 14lto engage the pet-cock lever 13 (see Figs. 1 and 2). The opening is then directly under the spout of the pet-cock. The operator then gives the handle 14. a quarter turn causing the pet-cock valve to be opened and permitting oil to run out. IVhen in the latter position the glass jar will be raised about to position 17 in I 2 and it correctly located with relation to the petcock it will in this raised position catch any oil running out of the pet cock. Only a small quantity of oil is usually allowed to escape and is caught in the jar, the operator immediately turning the valve to original position. If no oil runs out of the top petcock-the lower one can be tried and oil put in the reservoir according to needs thus indicated and the appearance of the oil in the jar will determine also if an entire new supply is necessary. An important feature in the use of my device is that no oil is spilled or wasted and there will be no objectionable, accumulatingoil puddles on the floor of a garage or oil station.

What I claim is:

In an oil valve device for opening and closing pet-cocks in oil reservoirs of the class described, an elongated main bar with a handle at one end, valve stem engaging and manipulating mean at the other end,

means secured to said main bar and adjacent its valve engaging end for supporting and holding a receptacle with its opening adjacent said valve engaging means, said main bar adapted to be turned by means of the handle to open the petcock and, si1nultaneously to position the vessel to catch oil esca Jim from the et-cock said vessel com-.

prising a ar of transparent material, said vessel supporting means comprising an L- shaped member secured to the mam bar and extending at an angle from the main bar thence lateral to the main bar to support the bottom of the vessel, and said vessel holding means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed spring arms secured to the anglr lar arm of the supporting member and adapted to simultaneously engage opposite sides of the vessel.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

MELVIN M. HUTCHINS. 

